We blog about career trends, the future job market, and higher education in Minnesota.

Month: June 2016

Minnesota schools are experiencing a teacher shortage in several critical areas.

According to Education Minnesota, the hardest positions to fill are in special education, math and science. There is also a need for more teachers to lead Career and Technical Education classes in high schools.

The state also has low numbers of teachers of color compared to Minnesota’s diverse student bodies.

Qualified teachers can apply for financial incentives to work in classrooms. The Minnesota Office of Higher Education announced The Minnesota Teacher Shortage Student Loan Repayment Program. Created in 2015 by the State Legislature, and signed into law by Governor Dayton, the program is intended to encourage teachers to teach in designated Minnesotan shortage areas.

According to OHE, Qualifying teachers who apply by June 30, 2016may be eligible for repayment assistance of $1,000 per year, up to a total of $5,000. OHE estimates that 194 awards will be made for the 2015-2016 award year, with as many as 1,940 annual awards made through 2019.

Teachers can apply for the loan repayment program who:

Hold a teaching license issued by the licensing division in the Minnesota Department of Education on behalf of the Board of Teaching